Container-sealing machine



May 9, 1950 Filed July 11, 1946 J. E. UNDERWOOD CONTAINER SEALINGMACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 James E M er/00a? M y 1950 J. E. UNDERWOOD 2,507,427

CONTAINER SEALING MACHINE Filed July 11, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 James .E'. U uYezwam? 3 .1285 9% rneas y 1950 v .J. E. UNDERWOOD 2,507,427

CONTAINER SEALING MACHINE Filed July 11, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 .E'ZLIGZZ'iTZ'2 cIrmesE UnJerwao z May 9, 1950 J. E. UNDERWOOD CONTAINER SEALING MACHINE Filed July 11, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 May 9, 1950 J. E. UNDERWOOD CONTAINER SEALING MACHINE 7 She ets-Sheet 5 Filed July 11, 1946 /igz iz.

Jrmesfl UnJerwood 5 65 fraud/071,

May 9, 1950 J. E. UNDERWOOD 2,507,427

CONTAINER SEALING MACHINE Filed July 11, 194

7 Sheets-Sheet 6 W Izubatflrx- Jirm e6 .5: Underwoo z y Z 65 J%rzzegs May 9; 1950 J. E. UNDERWOOD 2,507,427 CONTAINER SEALING MACHINE Filed July 11, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 vwm Patented May 9, 1950 s= PATENT oF FlCE CONTAINER-SEALING MACHINE James E. Underwood, Phoenixville, Pa., asslgnor to The West Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation ofiPennsylvania Appllcation'July 11, 1946, Serial No. 682,812

1 13 Claims. This invention relates to new and useful improvements in container-sealing machines, and

more particularly to machines for sealing cap structures in bottles and other containers holding pharmaceutical preparations such as serums, antitoxins and the like which must be protected from all foreign matter and contamination from any source.

With this in mind one object of the present invention is to provide a machine which is operable substantially automatically to seal the cap structures upon bottles or other containers ad'- vancing successively through the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the stated character which is characterized by its flexibility and ready adaptation to cap structures and bottles or-containers of diflerent sizes.

Another and highly important object of the present invention is to provide a bottleor container sealing machine of the type set forth which is characterized by the fact that a single adjustment is provided in the machine to effectively and accurately control the extent of movement of the sealing elements of the machine which engage the cap structure and the degree of pressure exerted by said elements against the cap structure to effectively seal the same upon the bottle or other container.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine having the features and attributes set forth which is of relatively simplified, compact and inexpensive construction; and completely foolproof and efllcient'in operation and use.

These and other objects of the invention and the various features and details in respect to the construction and operation thereof are hereinafter-fully set forth and described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective. view of a container sealing machine'made .according to the present invention, the drive mechanism housing having. been removed to better illustrate the same.

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective partially in section showing the construction and arrangement of one type of sealing cap structurewhich may be employed in a machine of the presentinvention.

Fig. 3 is a transverse fragmentary sectional view through a bottle or container having a stopper and sealing cap structure in association therewith and showing the relative position of the sealing elements of the machine prior to engagement thereof with the cap structure.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig- 3 showing the 2 manner in which the sealing elements of the machine engage the lower circumferential edge portion of the sealing cap structure and spin or work the same inwardly and beneath the lip portion .of the bottleneck so that the sealing cap retains the stopper securely in the bottle or container.

reference to line l 0l 0, Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional'view taken on line I l l I, Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line |2-l2, Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line li-l 3, Fig. 5.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view of the operating head portion of the machine as viewed with respect to line ll-I 4, Fig. 13; and

Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken on line Iii-l5,

The embodiment of the machine illustrated in the drawings, and hereinafter described with reference thereto, is adapted to secure or seal upon a bottle or container a cap structure of the character shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings. This cap structure comprises a resilient closure member I adapted to fit snugly within the outlet opening 2 of a bottle or other container 3 and having a thin wall 4 adapted to overlie said opening and being pierceable to gain access to the contents of the container. The cap structure includes also an inner retainer element 5 which is adapted to embrace the portion! of the closure member 3, a cup-shaped cover cap 6 'which is adapted to fit over the retainer element 5, and a second .or outer retainer element 1 for the cap 5 which is adapted to fit over the latter, the retainer elements 5 and I having portions extending below cap 6 and the projecting lip portion 8 of the bottle'and being adapted to be spun or crimped thereunder by a plurality of disc elements of the machine in the manner, for example, illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings.

Referring tom. 1. of the drawings, the illustrated embodiment of the present machine comprises essentially upper and lower housings II and II, respectively, supported in vertically spaced relation by means of a tubular column H for vertical adjustment with respect to each other as more particularly described hereinafter. Journalled in the upper housing portion ll of the machinebymeansofbearings I3 and llisa shaft |I, the lower end portion of which is received within the upper end portion of a tubular shaft ii that is rotationally disposed within the aforesaid support column I 2. Driving connection between the shaft l5 and the tubular Shaft I9 is provided by means of a cross-pin, key or the like l'l.

Received coaxially within the lower end portion of the tubular shaft I9 is the upper end portion of a shaft I8 which is journalled in a suitable bearing l9 secured within the lower end of the supporting column l2, and has its lower end portion reduced, as indicated at 20, and journalled in the base 2| of the housing H by means of a bearing 22, the said end portion 29 of the' shaft l9 extending below the base 2| of said housing II and having secured thereon at the underside thereof a suitable gear 23. Driving connection is provided between the tubular shaft I6 and the shaft I! by means of a key or spline 25 carried by the tubular shaft l6 and slidably engaging elongated longitudinal groove or key-way 26 in the shaft is thus permitting the shaft It to be moved telescopically with respect to the shaft It as the upper housing III of the machine and the supporting column |2 may be adiustably positioned vertically with respect to the lower housing of the machine.

Suitably secured upon the upper end portion of the shaft i5 is a pulley 21 which is adapted to be rotationally driven by means of a V-belt 29 from a pulley 29 fixed on the shaft 30 of a suitable source of rotational power such as an electric motor M that may be supported in the relative position shown in Figs. 1 and 5 of the drawings, by means of a bracket 3| suitably supported laterally and rearwardly of the upper housing III, for example, by means of studs 32.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings, the gear 23 secured upon the lower end of the shaft I8 is meshed with a suitable gear 33 on a shaft 34 journaled in a bracket 95 secured upon the base 2| of the lower housin ll. Also fixed on the shaft 34 is a worm -26 which is meshed with a worm wheel 91 that is fixed on a shaft 38 rotationally mounted in a horizontal position upon the base 2| by means of bearings 99 and 40. Rotationally receiving the reduced portion of the shaft 38 adjacent the bearing 40 is a sleeve 4! which is supported with respect to the shaft 38 by means of sleeve bearings 42 and 43, respectively. Suitably keyed or otherwise fixed to the sleeve 4| is a gear 44 and driving connection to the latter from the shaft 38 is effected through said sleeve 4| by means of a jaw-type clutch, one member 45 of which is slidably keyed to the sleeve 4| and normally.

' or by means of a connecting rod or the like 49 actuated through the medium of a conventio type foot-treadle (not shown).

, In the present instance the cam member 49 normally is urged into the path of the clutch pin 49 (the dotted line position in Fig. 8) by means of a spring 54 associated with the control rod 52, and it will be apparent that by this construction the cam member 49 operates normally to' hold the clutch member 45 disengaged from the other clutch member 46 so that no driving connection exists between the shaft 39 and gear 44. Accordingly, to establish driving connectionto the gear 44'. the cam lever 49 must first be moved out of the path of the clutch pin 48 to the solid line position shown in Fig. 8 by actuation of the rod 59 through a foot treadle (not shown) or by manual actuation of the control rod 52.

The gear 44 on shaft 39 is meshed with a gear 55 fixed on a, shaft 56 which is rotationally is meshed with a similar bevel gear 60 that is secured on a; shaft 5| rotationally supported perpendicular to the shaft 56 by means of suitable bearings 62 and 83.

As shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings, the shaft 6| projects through the wall of the housing H to a point therebeyond and has fixed on its projecting end a bevel gear 64 which is meshed with a corresponding bevel gear 65 fixed on the lower end of a vertically arranged shaft 66 supported exteriorly of the housing H and mechanically connected to an aligned upper shaft 61 by means of a, conventional slip clutch 68. Carried at the upper end of the shaft 61 is the actuator member 69 of a Geneva drive mechanism which member 69 carries an upwardly projecting pin Ill (see Figs. 8 and 10) arranged to engage circumferentially spaced slots H in the driven member or wheel 12 of said Geneva mechanism. The Geneva wheel 12 is secured to the lower face of a. hub member 13 which has secured upon its opposite face a feed plate I4, and the Geneva -wheel 12, hub 19 and plate 14 are secured together by means of bolts or the like 15, the entire assembly being rotatably supported above the housing ll upon an upstanding stud 15. The construction and arrangement of the Geneva mechanism is such that each time the pin III of the actuator member 69 moves into engagement with one of the slots ll of the wheel 12, the latter and the associated feed plate 14 are rotated a predetermined distance, for example in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 10.

As best shown in Fig. 10 of the drawing, the feed plate 14 has formed therein a'series of openings 11 arranged circumferentially of the plate 14 corresponding to the positions of the slots H in the Geneva wheel 12. The openings 11 in the feed plate 14' are adapted to receive suitably sized sleeves 11a for bottles or containers to be advanced by said plate 14 into cap-sealing position in the machine. During travel of the bottles or containers with the plate 14 through a major portion of the rotational said feed'plate u. 8 clutch 88 is interposed between the shafts 88 course thereof, the bottles or .containers have their lower ends or bottoms. slidably supported and 81 and this is done for safety purposes to prevent damage to the drive mechanism of the machine in the event of jamming in the capsealing operation which might preventmovement of the plate "I8 in its proper manner to prises a piston-like structure including a head 82 which is adapted to receive a block 82a of predetermined size according to the particular size bottle or container being sealed. Secured to and extending downwardly from the head 82 is a sleeve 88 which carries at its lower end a transverse shaft 88 which mounts a roller 85 that is arranged to ride upon the periphery of a cam 85 suitably keyed or otherwise secured upon the previously described shaft 58, the said roller 88 normally being held in engagement with the periphery of the said cam 86 by means of a spring 81.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings, extending vertically through the upper housing I 8 of the machine and arranged coaxially of the opening 8| in the plate I8 through which the bottle'or container elevating mechanism operates, is a spindle 88 which has its upper end rotatably supported in a bridge piece 8| which forms a part of a cover or housing 82 which normally encloses the various drive belts and pulleys at. the top of the machine. Threaded on the spindle 88 in overlying relation with respect to the bridge piece 9| is a collar 88 whereby the spindle 88 may be secured in the position to which adjusted relative to the bridge piece 8|, for example, by means of a set screw or the like 88.

Secured upon the lower end of the spindle 88 is a block 85 which is adapted to engage upon the upper surface of the ca structure of a bottle or container advanced into position beneath by the feed plate I4. In this connection it is to be observed that the vertical position of the spindle 88 is adapted to be adjusted with respect to the supporting bridge piece 8| with reference or container upwardly through the action of the cam 88 on the shaft 58 the block 85 at thelower end of the spindle 88 will engage the top of the cap upon such bottle or container with suillcient pressure to hold the bottle with its cap thereon relatively firmly against displacement during the sealing operation.

Loosely surrounding the spindle 88 and extending substantially coextensive of the length thereof is a tubular shaft 88 which is supported for rotation circumferentially of the spindle 88 by means of a ball bearing assembly 81 that is supported by the head portion 88 of a guide sleeve 88 e which extends an appreciable distance axially about and along the tubular shaft 88, the said head portion 88 of the sleeve 88 being secured against rotation to the upper housing structure I8, for example, by means of a-bolt or the like The lower end of the guide sleeve 88 rests upon an annular washer III supported upon a shoulder portion I82 formed circumferentially of l the shaft 88 and the latter is further rotationally supported within the lower end of the guide sleeve 88 by means of a suitable sleeve bearing or the like 88.

Carried by the lower .end of the tubular shaft 88, as indicated at I88, is a spinning head, generally designated H. This head H comprises an upper casing member I88 having a centrally located neck I88 which is threaded onto the tubular shaft 88 and extends upwardly therealong to the underside of the aforesaid shoulder I82 thus serving to index the position of the head H longitudinally of the tubular shaft 88.

In addition to the member I85, the spinning head H comprises a lower casing member I81 of generally annular configuration normally retained in cooperative association with the head member I85, for example, by means of screws or the like I88 whereby said member I88 may be readily removed for replacement or substitution as hereinafter described. Supported in vertical position within the spinninghead H are a plurality of studs I88 (see Figs. 13, 14 and 15) which have their upper and lower ends mounted in the head members I85 and Ill, respectively, and are arranged in equally spaced relation circumfer entially with respect to the common axis of the spindle 88 and the tubular'shaft 88 as shown.

Pivotally mounted upon each of the spindles I88 are brackets I I2 arranged for movement about the spindles I88 in the directions indicated by the arrows in Fig. 13. Upon each of the brackets I I2, for example, by means of a screw or the like H8, is mounted a roller Ill, and also mounted face of a suitable ball-type thrust bearing II8.

The brackets II2, together with their rollers Ill and spinning disks II8, normally are biased in a generally outward direction with respect to the spinning head H by means of suitable springs H8 and recesses I28 are provided in the head member I81 to receive the spinning disk elements I I8 in their outer positions. As previously stated, the head member I85 is removable to permit replacement or substitution of the spinning disks II8 as may be required according to differences in size and shape of the cap structures to be sealed.

Constructed and arranged for cooperative engagement with each of the rollers ,I I8 are cam members I2I which extend inwardly of the spinnlng head H through slots I2Ia in the top of the head member I85 (see Figs. 5, 13, 14 and 15). These cam members I2I are pivotally mounted upon pins I22 for movement in vertical planes between the relatively spaced parallel arms I28 of a bracket I 24 having a central hub portion I25 which embraces the sleeve portion I88 of the spinning head H and is keyed thereto, for example, as indicated at I28, so that the bracket is rotationally connected to the neck portion I88 of the head H but is mounted foraxial sliding movement relative thereto.

Movement of the cam members I2I Is substantially restricted and radial motion is positively limited by means of stops I21, while upward movement with respect to the rollers H4 is upposed by means of plungers I26 which have their upper ends slidably retained in a plate I29 that is held in position axially with respect to the bracket I24 by means of a collar III. Associated with each of the plunger I26 is a relatively stifl spring III which acts between the plate I29 and the upper face of the plunger I26 normally to cause the latter to maintain the cam members I2I in the position shown in Figs. .5 and 14 of the drawings, it being understood that the illustrated position of the cam members I2I constitutes the normal operating position thereof, and that the pivotal mounting of said cam members and the provision of the spring-biased plungers I28 ismade for the purpose of providing a relative small amount of outward give to the cam member I2I to compensate for slight variations in the size and configuration of the caps and neck portions of the bottles or containers being sealed.

The tubular shaft 96, together with the head H and-the brackets II2, are rotationally driven at a predetermined speed by means of a pulley I40 secured upon said shaft 96 adjacent the upper end thereof. The pulley I40 in turn is driven by means of a V-belt I from a pulley I42 fixed on the drive shaft I5 previously described, the latter being driven by the motor M through pulley 29, belt 26 and the pulley 21.

Movement of the bracket I24 together with its cams I2I axially with respect to the shaft 96 and the head H to actuate the rollers II4, their brackets H2 and spinning disks I I6 into operative engagement with the capstructure of the bottle or container (see Figs. 3 and 4) is effected by means of a rocker I5 having relatively spaced arm portions I carrying rollers I52 which ride within a grooved collar I53 that is I66, the arm I62 will be periodically actuated into the position shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings and this pivotal or oscillatin movement of said arm' threadably or otherwise secured upon the upper end portion of the cam carrying bracket I24. As shown in Fig. 7, the rocker arm I is secured upon a rock shaft I which is supported transversely within the housing I0, and the construction and arrangement is such that when the shaft I55 is rocked or rotated, the rocker I50 will be actuated in a manner to cause the roller I52 carried at the free ends of its arm portions I5I to actuate the collar I53 and the bracket I24, to-

gether with its cam members I2I, axially downward relative to the tubular shaft 96, the head assembly H and the relatively stationary cap holding spindle 90.

As illustrated in Figs. 1, 6 and 7, the rock shaft I55 has one end thereof projecting outwardly of the housing I0 and keyed to this projecting end of the rock shaft I55 isone end of an arm I which has its free end adjustably connected by means of a threaded member IGI to another arm I62. This other arm I62 has one end thereof pivotally mounted with respect to the rock shaft I55 and the lever I60, and the free end of said arm I62 carries a roller I63 which contacts the periphery of a cam I64 under the influence or urging of a suitable spring I65. The cam I64 is secured upon a shaft I66 which extends inwardly of the machine and has secured on its inner end a worm wheel I61 that is meshed with a worm I68 secured upon the aforesaid drive shaft I5.

By this construction it will be apparent that as the cam I64 is rotationally driven by its shaft I62 will operate through the connection I" to actuate the lever I66 thereby causing the rock shaft I55 to be actuated with resulting vertical reciprocal movement of the bracket I24 and its cam members I2I in the manner set forth above.

A particular feature of the machine of the present invention resides in the construction and arrangement of the arms I60 and I62 and the adjustable connection provided therebetween by the screw member I6I. As previously described, the arm I60 is keyed to the rock shaft I56 while the arm I62 is rotatably mounted with respect to both the arm I60 and shaft I 55, the arm I62 being actuated by means of the cam I64 and in turn actuating the shaft arm I66 through the said connection provided by the threaded member I6I It will be apparent that adjustment of the member I6I will operate to position the arm I60 in closer relation to, or further away from, the arm I62, as the case may be, depending upon the direction in which the member I6I is rotated.

Thus, for example, if the member IN is adjustedto move the member I60 in counterclockwise direction to a position in closer proximity to the arm I62 than that shown in Fig. 6, this change in position of the arm I62 will cause the position of the shaft I55 and rocker I50 to be correspondingly changed in a counterclockwise direction so that the initial setting or inoperative position of the bracket I24 and its cam members I2I, vertically with respect to the head H, will be below that shown in said Fig. 6. Conversely, adjustment of the member I6I to move the arm I60 in the clockwise direction to a position further removed from the arm I62, it will be apparent that the initial setting or inoperative position of the bracket I24 and cams I2I will be above that illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

In this manner, merely by adjustment of the single threaded member I6I, the initial setting or position of the bracket I24 and cams I2I vertically with respect to the head H may be predet-zrminedly fixed to thereby regulate and control the extent of movement of the spinning discs II6 with respect to the bottle cap structure as well as the pressure exerted thereby upon the cap structure when spinning the lower edge thereof beneath the projecting lip of the bottle or container, it being apparent that while the extent of the movement of arm I60 and shaft I55 is the same whatever the setting of the member I6I, by changing the position from which movement of the bracket I24 takes place or commences, the movement and pressure of the spinning disks with respect to any particular bottle or container and cap structure may be regulated and controlled as required or desired.

As previously stated, provision is made for vertical adjustment of the housing I0 relative to the lower housing II and, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, this is accomplished by providing a rack I10 (see Figs. 10, 11 and 12) which is mounted exteriorly lengthwise of the column I2. Meshed with the rack I10 is a pinion Ill that is mounted within the upper part of the lower housing II (see Fig. 1) upon a shaft I15.

9 be locked in the position to which adjusted, for example, by means of a bolt "8 that may be tightened to clamp blocks I18 and I88 against the column II as shown in Fig. 12 of the drawings.

In operation of the machine, the motor M is started to rotationally drive the shaft it which in turn drives the shaft 38 through the shafts I8 and I8, and the clutch member 48 is held disengaged with respect to the clutch member 48 by the cam arm 49 so that no drive is established from the shaft 38 to the shaft 58. Also driven from the shaft I is the tubular-shaft 86 which carries at its lower end the spinning head H. In addition to the shafts 38 and 88, there is also driven from the shaft III the shaft I88 which carries the cam I64 that operates to effect reciprocal movement of the bracket I24 and its cams I2I longitudinally of the tubular shaft 96 in the manner previously described herein.

with the several mechanisms of the machine in operation a described, bottles or containers 3 with stoppers I and cap structures assembled therein and thereon in the relation shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings are positioned in successive openings II of the feed plate I4. The control bar'52 or foot treadle (not shown) may now be actuated to move the cam arm 49 from the dotted line position in Fig. 8 to the solid line position shown therein to thereby cause the clutch member 45 to engage the clutch member 48 and establish driving connection from the shaft 38 through the shafts 56, GI, 66 and slip clutch 58 to the shaft 61 thus driving the Geneva mechanism to advance the feed plate I4 in a stepby-step manner to successively advance the bottles or containers into the cap-sealing position of the machine in coaxial alignment with the holding spindle 90 and the spinning head H.

As a container or bottle 3 with the stopper I and cap structure thereon is moved into the sealing position by the feed plate I4 as described, the cam 86 on the shaft 56 operates through the follower 85 to actuate upwardly the elevator mechanism 83 which is projected through the opening M of support plate I8 to engage the underside of the bottle or container 3 and actuate it upwardly to'place the top of the cap structure thereon firmly into abutting relation against the underside of the holding block 95 fixed on the lower end of the spindle 9t.

The height of the block 82a of the elevator mechanism is selected according to the height .of the'particular bottle or container 3 to be sealed in each particular instance, and the vertical position of the holding spindle 90 is predeterminedly fixed by adjustment of collar 83 so that the block 95 at the lower end of said spindle will engage the top of the cap structure on the bottle or container sealing position with sufficient pressure to hold the latter against displacement during. the sealing operation.

As the bottle or container 3 is brought into abutting relation against the underside of the holding block. 95 by means of the elevator mechal0 crimp the sanfe under the lip a ofthe bottle or container 8 as described in. detail previously herein.

As operation of the machine continues the bracket I24 and its cams III retract and the elevator mechanism moves downwardly thereby returning the now sealed bottle or container 3 to its normal position in the feed plate I4 and resting upon support I8. Feed plate I4 thereupon is rotated through an additional step by the Geneva mechanism to move the sealed bottle or container 3 from the sealing position of the machine and to place the succeeding unsealed bottle in position to be sealed in the manner herein described. As the sealed containers move away from the sealing position they ultimately drop by gravity through the openings 11 in the feed plate I4 onto an inclined trough or chute arranged, for example, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. v

In any operation of a machine made according to the present invention it is to be understood that preparatory to such operation the threaded member I BI interconnecting the arms I80 and I82 will be adjusted in the manner previously described in detail herein to provide the necessary movement and pressure of the spinning disk elements II8 to perform the required sealing operation upon the particular cap structure employed. For this purpose, and in order to eflect adjustment of the threaded member IIiI with extreme exactness, the machine may be manually actuated apart from the motor M, for example, by operating the machine through a hand wrench applied to the projecting upper end I5a of the drive shaft I5 which may be exposed by. depressing the cap I 8| against the action of its spring I82.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides a novel bottle or container sealing machine which. is substantially automatic and is characterized by its flexibility and ready adaptation to cap structures and bottles or containers of various sizes. The invention also provides the very important feature of a bottle or container sealing machine of the type described which is characterized by the unique fact that a very easy and quickly made single adjustment is provided to effectively and accurately control the extent of movement ofthe sealing elements of the machine with respect to the cap structure to be sealed and the degree of pressure exerted by said sealing elements against the cap structure to effectively seal the same upon the bottle or container. The invention further provides a machine having the features and attributes set forth which is of relatively simplified, compact and inexpensive construction and completely foolproof and emcient in operation and use. I

While a particular embodiment of the presen invention has been illustrated and described herein, it is not intended that the invention be limited to such disclosure and changes and modifications may be made therein and thereto within the scope of the claims.

I- claim:

1. In a container sealing machine having a rotatable head carrying a plurality of spinning elements mounted for movement into rollingengagement with the cap on a container, a member reciprocable relative to the head from an inoperative position and operable to effect engagement of said spinning elements with the cap to seal the same on the container, a rocker engagv said head, a shaft mounting said rocker, a first arm fixed on said shaft, a second arm on-said shaft mounted for rotation relative to said shaft and said first arm, means to impart an oscillatory movement to said second arm, and adjustable means interconnecting said first and second arms operable to vary the relative positions thereof with respect to each other rotationally of the shaft and thereby predeterminedly position said shaft and flx the inoperative position of said member from which movement thereof relative to the head takes place.

2. In a container sealing machine having a rotatable spinning head carrying a plurality of spinning elements mounted for movement into rolling engagement with the cap on a container, a member reciprocable relative to the head from an inoperative position and operable to efiect engagement of said spinning element with the cap to seal the same on the container, a rocker en aging said member to actuate the same relative to said head, a shaft mounting said rocker and arranged to be rotated through a selected number of degrees from an initial set position, a first arm fixed on said shaft. a second arm mounted for rotation coaxially of said shaft and relative to said first arm, means to impart an oscillatory movement to said second arm, and threaded means adiustably interconnecting said first and second arms operable to vary the relative positions thereof rotationally with respect to each other and thereby predeterminedly position said shaft and fix the inoperative position of said member from which movement thereof relative to the head takes place.

3. In a container sealing machine of the character described comprising a rotatable head and means to rotationally drive said head, a plurality of arms pivotally carried by the head for movement in a common plane norm'alto the rotational axis of the head toward and away from a container positioned coaxially thereof, a spinning element on each arm arranged, for rolling engagement with a cap on the container, a member reciprocable coaxially of the head from an inoperative position, and a plurality of resiliently biased cam elements pivotally carried by said member and arranged respectively to actuate said arms and cause said spinning elements to engagethe cap on the container.

4. In a container sealing machine of the character described comprising a rotatable head and means to rotationally drive said head, a plurality of arms pivotally carried by the head for movement in a. plane perpendicular to the rotational axis of the head toward and away from a container positioned coaxially thereof, springs means normally biasing said arms outwardly away from the header, a spinning element on each arm arranged for rolling-engagement with a cap on the container, 3, member reciprocable coaxially of the head from an inoperative position, a plurality of cam elements pivotally carried by said member and arranged respectively to engage said arms and cause said spinning elements to engage the cap of the container, and spring means independently opposing pivotal movement of each cam in the direction to which urged by engagement of said arms.

- 5. In a container sealing machine of the character described comprising a rotatable head and means to rotationally drive said head, a plurality of spindles secured in said head at equally spaced intervals circumferentially of the rotational axis of the head and parallel thereto, an arm pivotally mounted on each spindle for movement in a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis of the head toward and away from a container positioned coaxially thereof, spring means normally biasing said arms outwardly away from the container, a spinning element on each arm arranged for rolling engagement with a cap on the container, a bracket reciprocable coaxially oi the head from an inoperative position, and a plurality of resiliently biased cam elements pivotally carried by said bracket and arranged respectively to actuate said arms and cause said spinning ele mentsto engage the cap of the container.

6. In a container sealing machine of the character described comprising a rotatable head and means to rotationally drive said head, a plurality of arms pivotally carried by the head for movement in a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis of the head toward and away from a container positioned coaxially thereof, spring means normally biasing said arms outwardly away from the container, a spinning element on each arm arranged for rolling engagement with a cap on the container, a roller carried by each of said arms, a bracket reciprocable coaxially of the head from an inoperative position, a plurality of cam elements pivotally carried by said bracket and arranged respectively to engage the rollers on said arms and cause said spinning elements to engage the cap of the container, and spring means independently opposing pivotal movement of each cam inthe direction to which urged by engagement of said rollers.

'7. In a container sealing machine of the character described comprising a rotatable head and means to rotationally drive said head, a plurality of spindles secured in said head at equally spaced intervals circumferentially of the rotational axis of the head and parallel thereto, an arm pivotally mounted on each spindle for movement in a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis of the head toward and away from a container positioned coaxially thereof, spring means normally biasing said arms outwardly away from the container, a spinning element on each arm arranged for rolling engagement with a cap on the container, a roller carried by each of said arms, a bracket reciprocable coaxially of the head from an inoperative position, a, plurality of cam elements pivotally carried by said bracket and arranged respectively to extend inwardly oi the head and engage the rollers on said arms and cause said spinning elements to engage the cap of the container, and spring means individually opposing pivotal movement of each cam in the direction to which urged by engagement of said rollers.

8. In a container sealing machine of the character described comprising a rotatable head and means to rotationally drive said head, a plurality of arms pivotally carried by the head for movement in a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis of the head toward and away from a container positioned coaxially thereof, spring means normally biasing said arms outwardly away from the container, a stud carried by each arm and arranged with its axis parallel to the axis of the head, a spinning element on each stud arranged below said am for rolling engagement with a cap on the container, a roller carried by each of said arms, a bracket reciprocable coaxially of the head from an inoperative position, a plurality of cam elements pivotally carried by said bracket and 15 arranged respectively to extend inwardly oi the 13 head and engage the rollers on said arms and cause said spinning elements to engage the cap of the container, and spring means opposing pivotal movement of each cam in the direction to which urged by engagement of said rollers.

9. In a container sealing machine of the character described comprising a rotatable head and means to rotationally drive said head, a plurality of spindles secured in said head at equally spaced intervals circumferentially of the rotational axis of the head and parallel thereto, an arm pivotally mounted on each spindle for movement in a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis of the head toward and away from a container positioned coaxially thereof, spring means normally biasing said arms outwardly away from the container, a stud carried by each arm and arranged with its axis parallel to the axis of the head, a spinning element on each stud arranged below said arm for rolling engagement with a cap on the container, spring means associated with said studs operable normally to bias said spinning elements against the undersides of said arms, a roller carried by each of said arms, a bracketreciprocable coaxially of the head from an inoperative position, a plurality of cam elements pivotally carried by said bracket and arranged respectively to extend inwardly of the head and engage the rollers on said arms and cause said spinning elements to engage the cap on the container, spring means opposing pivotal movement of each cam in the direction to which urged by engagement of said rollers, and means positively limiting movement of each cam .in the opposite direction. i

10. In a container sealing machine comprising a rotatable head carrying a plurality of spinning elements actuable into engagement with the cap on a container, 2. member reciprocable coaxially toward and away from the head from a predetermined relatively spaced position, a plurality of cam elements pivotally carried by said member and arranged respectively to effect actuation of said spinning elements into engagement with the cap on the container upon reciprocation of said member toward said head, spring means normally biasing each cam individually in one direction-and yielding to movement of eacli cam in the opposite direction to compensate for slight variation in the size and configuration of the caps and containers.

11. In a container sealing machine comprising a rotatable head carrying a plurality of spinning elements actuable into engagement with the cap on a container, a memberreciprocable coaxially toward and away from the head from a predetermined relatively spaced position, a plurality of cam elements pivotally carried by said member and arranged respectively for movement in vertical planes radially disposed with respect to said head axis to eflect actuation of said spinning elements into engagement with the cap on the container upon reciprocation or said member toward said head, and spring means individually opposing pivotal movement of each cam in the radially outward direction while yielding to movement of eachcaminthatdirectiontocompensateior 14 slight variations in the size and configuration of the caps and containers.

12. In a container sealing machine of the character described comprising a rotatable head and means to rotationally drive said head, a plurality of arms pivotally carried by the head for movement in a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis of the head toward and away from a container positioned coaxially thereof, spring means normally biasing said arms outwardly away from the header, a spinning element on each arm arranged for rolling engagement with a cap on the container, a bracket reciprocable coaxially of the head from an inoperative position, a plurality of resiliently biased cam elements pivotally carried by said bracket and arranged respectively to actuate said arms and cause said spinning elements to engage the cap of the container, and mechanism operable to reciprocate said bracket including means to predeterminedly fix the inoperative position of said bracket from which movement thereof relative to the head takes place.

13. In a container sealing machine of the character described comprising a rotatable head and means to rotationally drive said head, a plurality of arms pivotally carried by the head for movement in a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis of the head toward and away from a container positioned coaxially thereof, spring means normally biasing said arms outwardly away from. the header, a spinning element on each arm arranged for rolling engagementwith a cap on the container, a bracket reciprocable coaxially of the head from an inoperative position, a plurality oi cam elements pivotally carried by said bracket and arranged respectively to actuate said arms and cause said spinning elements to engage the cap of the container, spring means individually opposing pivotal movement of each cam in the direction to which urged by engagement of said arms, and mechanism operable to reciprocate said bracket including means to predeterminedly fix the inoperative position of said bracket from which movement thereof relative to the head takes place.

JAMES E. UNDERWOOD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 527,193 Bernardin Oct. 9, 1894 527,209 Leavitt Oct. 9, 1894 651,828 Copland June 19, 1900 964,925 Marshall July 19, 1910 1,251,166 Arnstein Dec. 25, 1917 2,020,375 Podel Nov. 12, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country 7 Date 22,537 Austria Dec. 27, 1905 234,352 Great Britain May 28. 1925 18,367/34 Australia Feb. 7, 1935 520,054 Great Britain Apr. 12, 1940 111,829 Australia Nov. 20, 1041 

